Free Justice Is Always Ready (A Graham Family Story, 1) by Aliyah Burke Page B

sharp knives are.”
    Justice looked at Kassidy’s father.
There was obvious love in his gaze when he put it on his daughter,
emotion that cooled considerably when he met Justice’s eyes. Her
father stood tall and proud with short hair with gray at the
temples.
    “ Mom. Dad. I’d like y’all
to meet Justice Graham. Justice, my parents, Ethan and Philyra
Barrow.”
    He stepped toward her mom and reached
for the outstretched hand. “It’s a pleasure to meet you, Mrs.
Barrow.”
    Her eyes were kind, and when she
smiled he realized instantly what had grabbed Ethan’s attention.
Philyra had a million watt smile.
    “ No need to be so formal.
I’m Philyra.”
    Returning her smile, he nodded while
leaning in to kiss her cheek. “Yes, ma’am. And that’s not just
because you know where the sharp knives are.”
    She touched his cheek, amusement alive
in her eyes. “I bet your momma had her hands full with
you.”
    “ I’d be lying if I said
otherwise.”
    Philyra stepped back and Ethan took
her place. His handshake was firm but his expression bespoke the
fact he was withholding judgment at the moment.
    “ Nice to meet you,
sir.”
    “ Nice to finally put a
face to the name of the man involved with my daughter.”
    Justice understood the subtle warning.
“Kassidy has spoken very highly of you both. Says you’re an
astronomer.”
    Ethan’s eyes sparkled, and Justice
knew he’d said the right thing. The man may not be ready to share
his daughter, but he was more than ready to talk about the
stars.
    “ Call me
Ethan.”
     

Chapter Seven
    From the kitchen, Kassidy observed
Justice as he spoke with her dad. They sat in the living room, a
chessboard between them and drinks beside each one. Lunch had gone
off without a hitch, for which she was so pleased.
    “ I like him, Kas,” her mom
said in a soft tone.
    Tearing her gaze from Justice, she
stared at her mom. There still lingered the hint of gray pallor and
strain to her skin and eyes. It worried her and Kassidy smiled to
hide her concern.
    “ Do you really?” When her
mom nodded, Kassidy breathed even easier.
    “ I’d say it’s a fair
assessment to say your father likes him as well.”
    “ Daddy likes anyone who
will listen to his stories and play chess,” she replied with a
chuckle.
    “ Well, there is that, but
I really think he likes him.”
    Pain leeched into her heart. “The son
he never had.”
    “ Kassidy Lyra, you stop
that!” Her mom’s tone was dagger sharp.
    She stared at her toes where they
peeked out from her peep toe heels. Sometimes her mouth moved
without thought. “Yes, ma’am, sorry.”
    It was a fear and shame she hadn’t
been able to get past. She knew her dad loved her. Deep down she
knew that, but she just couldn’t let go of the conversation she’d
overheard at the age of fifteen.
    “ I swear some days I just
don’t know what gets into your head, young lady.”
    Blinking back tears of frustration,
she forced an apologetic smile and met her mom’s gaze. “Just crazy
talk, Mama. Forget I said anything. Tell me about you and how
you’re doing.”
    The shifting of emotions was quick but
not quick enough, and Kassidy knew her mom was about to lie to her.
Stand right there and lie. Ensuring her expression revealed nothing
that would alert her mom she knew the words would be a lie, Kassidy
waited for the response.
    “ The doctor had been
worried I’d gotten pneumonia, then a virus, but all I had was a
really bad cold. My sinuses were not cooperating. So some meds and
rest, n’ here I am. Thanks for helping out at the museum while I
was under the weather.”
    The urge to scream “Liar!” roared over
her with the force of a class five hurricane. “No problem. Glad
you’re feeling better, mom,” was all she said. Libby appeared
beside her and the feel of her short hair beneath her palm calmed
her down. “I’ll have the dishes done in a jiff, why don’t you sit
down.”
    Kassidy kept the smile on her face
until her mom had